In two cases, federal judges have ruled against the 'don't ask, don't tell' law banning openly gay men and women from serving in the US military. Most Americans favor repeal of the law, but it's a tough fight in Congress.

President Obama has called for an Afghanistan exit strategy with no 'wiggle room' and a July 2011 troop withdrawal. General David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, has been less firm on the date.

The Pentagon says the largest sale ever of US arms, worth more than $60 billion, is aimed at bolstering Saudi Arabia on a number of fronts, Yemen included. While the threat from Iran appears to be the main motivation for the sale, its deterrent effect won't be known for some time.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoyl Serdyukov comes to the Pentagon for the first time this week to meet with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a former intelligence officer once skilled in the art of Kremlinology.

Medal of Honor bestowals from Iraq and Afghanistan – seven of them – have all occurred posthumously. Now Iowa Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta will receive a Medal of Honor for bravery during battle in Afghanistan.

Obama officials knew direct contact to persuade pastor Terry Jones to call off his planned Quran burning could inspire copycats. But Defense Secretary Robert Gates went forward out of concern for US troops' safety.

Did Gen. David Petraeus cross a civil-military dividing line when he commented on a church's Koran-burning plans? Scholars are divided. But Petraeus tells the Monitor he is obligated to give his assessment of a situation that could endanger US troops.

A Pentagon official called the Pakistan floods the 'worst natural disaster' in the country's history. He worries that Pakistan might feel slighted that the US military has not been as engaged as it was after the Haiti earthquake earlier this year.